Tractor



M. J. TRUMBLE.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. 1919.

1,359,294, Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

g 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Fig?! .11

M. J. TRUMBLE.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. 1919.

1 ,359,294. Patented Nov. 16, 1920..

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

- 67 Inca/1% 2 MILON J. TRUMBLE, OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 16, 192() Application filed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 326,080.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MiLoN J. TRUMBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Alhambra, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement Comprising ractors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tractors and more particularly to steam driven tractors such as are commonly used for agricultural purposesp An object of the invention is to provide a tractor in which certain new and useful arrangements of parts are used as set forth more in detail hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only,

Figure 1 is a cross section through the driving wheels and condenser, certain of the parts being shown. in elevation to better illustrate the invention.

F 1g. 2 1s a section on a plane represented V by the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of the valve gear.

In the embodiment of the invention shown a boiler 11 and a combined condenser and feed water heater 12 are mounted on a frame 13. Turning in bearings 14, on the exterior of the feed water heater 12, which is cylindrical, are a pair of driving wheels 15. Secured to the feed water heater 12 inside each of the wheels 15 is a frame on each of which is mounted a steam engine 21, this engine having a slide valve 22 and being supplied with live steam through a pipe 23 from the boiler 11, the flow of steam being controlled by a throttle valve 24. Exhaust steam passes from the engine through a passage 25 into a confined space 26 located between heads 27 inside the condenser 12, tubes 28 extending through these heads. Exhaust steam delivered to the confined space 26 is condensed by contact gear 43 secured to the inside of the wheel 15. A crank carried on the shaft 40 drives the pump 31.

The engine is reversed and controlled through the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, in which is a lever which may be secured in any of several positions by means of a segment 61. The lever 60 is fixed on shaft 62 which carries a lever 63 inside the wheel 15. The lever 63 operates a bell crank 64 through a rod 65 the bell crank 64 shifting a, link block 66 on a segment 67 driven by an eccentric 68. A va ve stem 69 is connected to the block 66 operating the valve 22.

The method of operation will be evident from'the above description. Steam being generated in the boiler is utilized more or less expansively in the engine, depending upon the cut off which is determined by the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 3 in accordance with standard practice.

The exhaust steam is carried into the interior of the condenser in which it gives up a portion of this heat to the condensed water in the tubes 28, this condensed water being forced by the pump 31 back into the boiler 11. The wheels 15 are made practically oil tight so that lubricant can be carried therein for oiling the mechanism and so that this mechanism is free from dirt and dust.

By a suitable manipulation of the throttle valves 24 and thetwo levers 60 the tractor can be readily maneuvered or indeed turned about a center located between the centers of the two wheels 15.

I claim as my invention 1. A tractor comprising two wheels; two steam engines each located in one of said wheels; means by which each engine drives its wheel; a boiler, a condenser and feed water heater forming an axle about which exhaust steam from the engine to a confined space around said tubes; and means for forcing any water condensed in said space through said tubes and into said boiler.

2. A tractor comprising two wheels; two steam engines each locatedin one of said wheels; two internal gears each rigidly fixed in one of said wheels; two pinions each driven by one of said engines and meshing with one of said internal gears; a boiler, a condenser and feed water heater forming an axle about which said wheels revolve;

said condenser containingaseries of tubes; means for delivering exhaust steam from the engine to a confined space around said tubes; and 'means for forcing any water condensed in said space through said tubes and into-said boiler.

3. A tractor comprising two wheels; two steam engines each located in one of said wheels; means by which each engine drives its wheel; a boiler, a condenser and feed water heater forming an axle about which 7 said wheels revolve; said condenser containing a series of tubes; means for delivering exhaust steam from the engine to a confined space around said'tubes; and two pumps each operated by one of said engines and each forcing. any water condensed. in said space through said tubes and into said boiler.

4. A tractor comprising two wheels; two steam engines each located in one of said wheels; two internal gears each rigidly fixed. in one of said wheels; two pinions each driven by one of said engines and vmeshing with one of said internal gears; a boiler, a condenser and feed water heater forming an axle about which said wheels revolve; said condenser containing a series of tubes; means ,for delivering exhaust steam fromfthe engine to a confined space around said tubes; and two pumps each operated by one of said engines and each forcing any water condensed in said space through said tubes and into said'boiler.

5. Avtractor comprising two wheels; two steam engines each located in one of said wheels; two reversing gears each located invside one of said wheels and controlllng the spacev around said tubes; and means for forcing any water condensed 1n sald space 7 through said tubes and into said boiler.

6 A tractor comprising two wheels; two steam engines each located in one of said wheels; two reversing gears each located inside one of said wheels and controlling the direction and cutofl of one of said engines; two internal gears each rigidly fixed in one of said wheels; two pinions each driven by one of said engines and meshing with one of said internal gears; a boiler, a condenser and feed water heater forming an axle about which said wheels revolve; said condenser containing a series of tubes; means for delivering exhaust steam from the engine to a confined space around saidtubes; and means for forcingany water condensed in said space through said tubes and into said boiler. r r

7. A tractor comprising two wheels; two steam engines eachlocated in one of said wheels; two reversing gears each located inside one of said wheels and controlling the direction and cutoff of one of said engines; means by which each engine drives its wheel; a boiler a condenser and feed water heater forming an axle about which'said wheels revolve; said condenser containing a series oftubes means for delivering exhaust steam from the engine to a confined space around said tubes; and'two pumps each operated by one of said engines and each forcing any water condensed insaid space through said tubes and into said boiler. r p r 8. A tractor comprising two wheels; two steam engines each located in one of said wheels; two reversing gears each located inside one of said wheels and controlling the direction and cutolf of one of said engines;

two internal gears each rigidly fixed in one of said wheels; two pinions each driven by one of said engines and meshing with one of said internal gears; a boiler, a condenser and feed water heater forming an axle about which said wheels revolve; said condenser containing'a series of tubes; means for delivering exhaust steam from the engine to a'confined space around said tubes;

and two pumps each operated by one of said engines and each forcing any water condensed in said space through said tubes and into said boiler. 7

In testimony whereofil have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 16th day of September, 1919.

MILON J. TRUMBLE. 

